ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun (Switch) Review

A trippy and unquestionable bold runner game that ends before you know it.

Hang with me for long and you might find oiut that I have an obsession for runner games. Wheter level-based or endless, nothing gives me that one-more-go vibe more than that genre. Experiences like Super Mario Run, Bike Rider DX, Super One More Jump, and the BIT.TRIP RUNNER games give me a simple sense of joy. From the outset, it seemed that ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun was tailored to my interests. A remarkably weird visual style, constant action, and easy-to-learn controls is all that I needed to know to jump in.

Don't expect an easy walk in the park with this one. ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun is an unrelenting runner that requires many moves in quick succession. The L- and R-buttons fly and shoot, which takes some getting used to. Personally, I would've liked the default setting to have been ZL and ZR, but this can be easily changed in the options menu.

Even when customizing the buttons to your liking, the reaction time is short. The equipped gun can shoot forward or downward, which is necessary to keep your character moving in between the top and bottom. One or two missteps, and your hero might be squeezed by the wall. The tempo never slows down, so staying focused is such a big factor here. It was such a thrill to experience.

ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun is, however, not completely cruel. Even though levels are short, they are filled with generous checkpoints. Your character can also take two hits before being sent back. The true challenge is collecting atomiks spread across the levels. Finding them unlock additional worlds, so I found myself restarting levels several times until I nailed them. The game sadly took only a couple of hours to fully complete, after which nothing is left to do.

What I adored the most of ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun is the weird, trippy style. The vibrant colors instantly blew me away, though it might a bit too crazy for some. What sells it for me is the moody atmosphere of the levels themselves, giving it a true alien feeling. The pulsing techno soundtrack only adds to it with pumping beats and energy. Between the levels, weird space creatures berate your intergalactic journey and tell how you don’t have what it takes. A dumb smirk was plastered on my face while reading these lines.

Overall, I had a really surprisingly fun time with ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun. It has a good sense of difficulty and nailing everything was satisfying. Next to that, the grand sense of style is unmatched by most that I play in the genre. The big bummer is that it took only a few hours to fully complete the roughly 100 levels in the package. An endless mode would made me really happy, and would've made ATOMIK something I could return to. Still, what’s here is made with care, making for an enjoyable experience.